Retrieving device



Feb. 3, 1959 E. POTTASH RETRIEVING DEVICE Filed March' 14, 1957 RETRIEVDIG DEVICE Edward Pottash, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 14, 1957, Serial No. 645,946

6 Claims. (Cl. '24S-30) This invention relates generally to retrieving or retracting devices, and is especially concerned with a new :and improved device for retracting flexible conduit, hose, and the like.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally a carrier mounted in elevated position for rotation about a generally vertical axis, a flexible line supported at an intermediate region by the carrier for movement with the latter and relative up-and-down movement of opposite line ends, one end of the line being adapted for attachement to a iiexible conduit to v be retracted, and a weight on the other end of the line tending to pull the latter line end down and raise the first mentioned line and its attached conduit.

While the particular embodiment of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed for use in retracting gasoline pump hoses, and will be illustrated and described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is appreciated that the novel structure may be advantageously employed in a wide Variety of applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

As is well known, commercial garages, service stations for highway trucks, and the like, require relatively long gasoline pump hoses. By reason of the great length of such hoses, retraction into the pump housing is impracticable, even when the hose is coiled. Hence, these relatively long hoses are commonly left loose, resulting in considerable dragging of the hoses along the ground surface, as Well as movement of vehicles and persons over the hoses, all of which causes excessive wear. Moreover, even when it is practicable to coil a gasoline pump hose, as when its diameter or size permits, the repeated iiexure in such coiling and uncoiling tends to rapidly deteriorate the hose.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a conduit retracting device of the type described which overcomes the above mentioned dimculties, enables a hose to be quickly and easily extended as desired, and effects automatic retraction of the hose, all without undue iiexure of the hose and without allowing the latter to rest or drag on the ground.

t is a further object of the present invention to provide a retracting device having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple and durable in construction, requiring a minimum of parts, entirely reliable in operation, and which can be economically manufactured, installed and maintained.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following sepcitication and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplied in the construc.

tion hereinafter described, and of which the scope will lbe indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the retracting device of the present invention in conjunction with a gasoline ptunp and its hose;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational View, partly broken away, further illustrating the retracting device and its component parts; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure 2 showing in greater detail an operative portionL of the subject device.

Referring now more particularly` to the drawings, and specifically to Figure 1 thereof, 10 designates generally a gasoline pump mounted on a ground surface 11. The pump is provided with a relatively long discharge hose 12 having one end 13 iixedly secured to the pump, and having its other end 14 free from but releasably supported at the pump for manipulation and insertion into a gasoline tank. The structure thus far described is all conventional.

Also illustrated in Figure 1 is an upstanding member or standard 16 having its lower end embedded in the ground 11, and provided on its upper end with an el.,- vated support 17 which is mounted on the standard for rotation about a generally vertical axis. A flexible line or chain 18 is carried by the support or carrier 17 for rotation with the latter, andhas one end extending from the carrier and connected to an intermediate region of the hose 12. As will appear presently in greater detail, the chain 18 exteriorly of the carrier 1'7 and standard 16 is resiliently and yielda'bly biased upward to normally suspend the hose 12 above the ground 11.

Referring now to Figure 2, the standard 16 is seen as including a generally vertical disposed lower section or length of pipe 2i) which is embedded in a concrete base or anchor block 21 in the ground 11 and projects upward from the latter. A generally vertically disposed hollow or tubular intermediate section of pipe 22 is superposed in end-to-end relation over the upper end of the lower section Ztl and iixedly secured to the latter by a coupling or sleeve 23. A generally vertically disposed upper section, pipe or support 24 is superposed in end-to-end relation with respect to the upper end of pipe section 22 and iixedly Secured to the latter by a coupling 25. As best seen in Figure 3, the upper pipe section or support 24- is of open-ended hollow construction and secured in end-to-end aligned relation with respect to the open upper end of intermediate pipe section 22. Hence, the standard 16 may be considered as interiorly hollow and opening from its interior upward through its upper end.

An annular collar or ring 28 extends about the exterior of the upper pipe section or support 24 and is lxedly secured to the latter, as by welding or the like. Also circumposed about the upper standard section or support 24, and seated on the fixed collar 28 is an annular member or bearing race 29 formed in its upper surface with an upwardly facing, annular groove or raceway 3d. A plurality of bearing balls 31 are seated in the raceway 30 located circumferentially about the support 24.

Engaged over the upper end region of the upper standard section or support Z4, and basedly circumposed about the latter, is the carrier 17. In particular, the carrier 17 is of caplilte structure, including a generally cylindrical, tubular portion or Sleeve 34 which has its lower region circumposed in spaced relation about the upper region of the support 24 and extends upward considerably beyond the latter. A radially projecting peripheral flange 35 is formed on the lower end of the carrier sleeve 34 and provided on its underside with a downwardly facing annular groove or raceway 36 which seats on and partially receives the bearing balls 31. In this manner, the carrier 17 is mounted on` the support 24 for axial rotation about the generally vertical axis of the support. In addition, a peripheral wall 37 depends from the outer edge of the annular flange 35 to define a protective skirt extending about the bearing balls 31. Also, a protective closure or top wall 40 extends across and closes the upper end of the carrier sleevev 34.

Formed in the upper region of the carrier sleeve 34, abovethe upperend of the support 24, is a generally vertically extending through opening or slot 41. A pair of laterally spaced journal blocks 42 are arranged on opposite sides of thev carrier opening 41 and xedly secured to the carrier; and, a generally `vertically' disposed pulley 43 is arranged within the carrier opening 41 between the journal blocks 42 and mounted therebetween for rotation about the axis of a generally horizontal shaftV 44`supported in the journal blocks or bearing'members 42.

The llexi'ble line or chain 18 extends through the carrier opening 41, having an intermediate portiontrained over and supported by the pulley 43, so that one end 46 of the chain depends in spaced relation interiorly within the hollow standard 16, while the other chain end 47 depends exteriorly of the standard` Obviously; the chain is thereby mounted for relative up-and-down movement of its opposite ends.

On the chain end 46 interiorly of the standard 16 is secured a counterbalance or Weight 48, see Figure 2, which Weight is `freely movable up and down interiorly of the standard. The exterior chain end 47 is attached lby any suitable means, such as a shackle or collar 49 to an intermediate region of the hose 12.

By this construction, the intermediate hose portion is yieldably urged upward by the force of the weight 48 tending to pull its chain end 46 down and raise the Yexterior chain end 47. However, the weight of the counterbalance 48 is selected so that the hose 12 may be extended and drawn away from the standard 16 by elevation of the counterbalance and extension of the exterior portion of chain 18, all without the exertion of undue effort. Further, the chain 18 and hose 12 will not become entangled or entwined about the standard 16, and may be more easily extended in any direction radially of the standard, by reason of the rotary carrier 17, which automatically adjusts itself to the proper angular position.

From the foregoing, it is seen that thepresent invention provides a retracting device of the type described which fully accomplishes its intended objects, and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, maintenance, installation, and use.

Although the present invention has rbeen described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purpos of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A retrieving device for a ilexible conduit having one end anchored and one end free, said ydevice comprising a generally cylindrical hollow standard having its upper end open, a generally vertically disposed sleeve having its lower end open and its upper end closed and engaged over the upper end region of said standard with its closed end spaced above the upper end of said standard, bearing means circumposed about said standard and supporting said sleeve on said standard for generally axial rotation relative to the latter, said'sleeve being formed with a through side openingin the region above the upper end of said standard, a generally vertically disposed'pulley arranged in said sleeve opening and mounted on said sleeve for rotation therewith and rotation about a generally horizontal axis, a flexible line extending over said pulley and having its opposite ends depending respec- 4 i tively into said standard and exteriorly of said standard, said line thus being supported by said pulley for rotation therewith about said vertical axis and for relative up-anddown movement of opposite line ends, the end of said line disposed exteriorly of said standard being adapted for connection to an intermediate region of said exible conduit, and a weight *on the Yother end of said line spacedly received within said standard and tending to pull the interior end of said line down and raise the exterior end of said line and its attached conduit.

2. A retrieving device according to claim l, in combination with a peripheral skirt depending from the lower end of said sleeve about the exterior of said bearing means.

3. A retrieving device for a exible conduit having one end anchored and one end free, said device comprising a generally cylindrical hollow standard having its upper end open, a generally vertically disposed sleeve having its lower end openand its upper end closed and engaged over the upper end region of said standard with its closed end spaced above the upper end of said standard, annular thrust-bearing' means circumposed about said standard adjacent to and spaced below the upper end thereof and supporting said sleeve on said standard for generally axial rotation relative to the latter, said sleeve being formed Vwith a through vertical opening in the region above the -upper end of said standard spaced below the closed upper end of said sleeve, a generally vertically disposed pulley arranged in said sleeve opening and mounted on said sleeve for rotation therewith and rotation about a generally horizontal axis interiorly of said sleeve, a ilexible line extending over said pulley and having its opposite ends depending respectively into said standard and exteriorly of said standard, said line thus being supported by said pulley r.tor rotation therewith about said vertical axis and for relative up-and-down movement of opposite line ends, the end of said line disposed exteriorly of said standard being adapted for connection to an intermediate region of said ilexible conduit, and a weight on the other end of said line spacedly received Within said standard and tending to pull the interior end of said line down and raise the exterior end of said line and its attached conduit.

4. A retrieving device according to claim 3, said bearing means comprising a collar ixedly cirenmposed about said standard adjacent to and spaced below the upper end of said sleeve, and rolling elements carried on the upper side of said collar and in supporting engagement with the lower end of said sleeve.

5. A retrievingdevice according to claim 3, said pulley being mounted on said sleeve sutliciently radially inward thereof to transmit the force of said weight and exible line along a direction inward of said annular bearing means, to substantially eliminate radial forces on said sleeve.

6. A retrieving device according to claim 3, said bearing means comprising a collar xedly circumposed about said standard adjacent to and space below the lower end of said sleeve, and rollable bearing elements rollably carried on the upper side of said collar and in supporting engagement with the lower end of said sleeve, said pulley being mounted on said sleeve suiciently radially inward thereof to transmit the forces applied thereto in va generally vertical direction radially inward of said bearing means, to substantially eliminate radial forces on said sleeve.

Stedman Oct. 9, 1923 1,942,453 Ruemelin Jan. 9, 1934 2,211,480 Ring Aug. 13, 1940 

